Since the late–1980s, Belgian art historian Catherine de Zegher has curated many art exhibitions, including solo and group exhibitions in museums worldwide as well as large-scale perennial exhibitions. Her curatorial work is centred on modern and contemporary art and challenges mainstream models of art and art history that have excluded the role of women in art, currently, she is focussing on the relationship between women's art and ecology and art. From 1988 to 1998, he was the co-founder and director of Kanaal Art Foundation (Kortrijk, Belgium) where she curated exhibitions on emerging international artists with an emphasis on the development of multiculturalism in Europe. Her curatorial work has received international attention and in 2017 de Zegher received the Oscarla award for her role in the art world. Since 2014, de Zegher is a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts.
1988–1998: Kanaal Art Foundation, Courtray
Solo exhibitions TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefLili Dujourie: Ibant oscuri sola sub nocte per umbraLili Dujourie1988–1989ProductionBonner Kunstverein, Bonn; Le Magasin, Grenoble, France; Museum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo; Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris, produced by Kanaal Art Foundation, CourtrayTunga & Cildo Meireles: Lezarts/ThroughCildo Meireles, TungaMay 5–October 22, 1989Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation, CourtrayPatrick Corillon: 150 Year Railways Gent-KortrijkPatrick CorillonSep 22–Dec 24, 1989Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Railway Station, Courtray; traveled to Gare de l’Est, Paris, Sep 1991Tadashi KawamataTadashi KawamataOct 23, 1989–Feb 15, 1990Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Begijnhof St-Elisabeth, CourtrayGuy Rombouts & Monica Droste: Azart-alphabetGuy Rombouts, Monica DrosteMay 15–20, 1990Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at The Halls (Fair Child on View), Courtray; traveled to Brakke Grond, AmsterdamRobin Winters: Val Saint-Lambert SeriesRobin WintersJune 9–Aug 26, 1990Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Municipal Museum, CourtrayTrudo Engels: Barney1990Kanaal Art Foundation, CourtrayJames Casebere & Tony Oursler: Station ProjectJames Casebere, Tony OurslerFeb 20, 1991–March 29, 1992Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Railway Station, CourtrayWaltercio Caldas: Drawings and SculpturesWaltercio CaldasNov 8–Dec 15, 1991Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Cultural Center, Courtray; traveled to Centre d’Art Contemporain, Genève
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, RotterdamDavid Lamelas: Quand le ciel est bas et lourd
(When the Sky is Low and Heavy)David Lamelas1992Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation, Courtray; till today: large-scale sculpture in the park of the Royal Museum for Fine Arts, Antwerp (Included in the exhibition: America, Bride of the Sun. 500 Years/Latin America and the Low Countries, 1992)Antoni Muntadas: C.E.E. Project, also known as EdgeAntoni Muntadas1992Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation, Courtray; traveled to all European Community member states, 1991–1992; Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam, Feb. 22–Dec. 31, 1992; Federacion Espagnola de Municipios y Provincios, Madrid, Apr 30–May 31, 1992; Fundaçao Serralves, Porto, Apr 30–Dec 31, 1992; Broadgate, London, May 13–June 15, 1992; Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Frankfurt, Jan 12–Dec 21, 1992; Institut Français de Thessalonique, Thessalonique, Feb 10, 1997Ilya Kabakov & Ulo SoosterIlya Kabakov, Ulo SoosterOct 10–Dec 20, 1992Catherine de Zegher Elizabeth Ann MacgregorKanaal Art Foundation, Courtray; traveled to Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Apr 14–May 15, 1993; Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, July–Aug. 1993; Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, Sept 2–Oct 31, 1993; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Apr 13–May 30, 1994Everlyn Nicodemus: Vessels of SilenceEverlyn NicodemusOct 30–Nov 22, 1992Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Cultureel Centrum Kortrijk, CourtrayGabriel Orozco: In Broel-and Brewerytower Gabriel OrozcoApr 24–June 26, 1993Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation at Broel-towers and Brewery-tower, CourtrayAndrea Robbins and Max Becher: Cultural Remains: ‘Cultural Remains: Wall Street in Cuba’ – ‘ Holland, Michigan’Andrea Robbins and Max BecherDec 10, 1994–Jan 15, 1995Catherine de ZegherOrganized by Kanaal Art Foundation, Courtray. In co-production with: The Vleeshal, Middleburg, Holland, Oct 21 1994–Nov 27, 1995. Location: State Archives, Courtray, Dec 1994–Jan 1995
Group exhibition TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefInside the Visible. Begin the Beguine in Flanders: Cultural Ambassador of Flanders, an exhibition gradually unfolding over the period of a year, representing the work of international contemporary artists.Bracha L. Ettinger, Mona Hatoum, Ann Veronica Janssens, Anna Maria Maiolino, Avis Newman, Martha Rosler, Nancy Spero, Jana Sterbak, Joelle Tuerlinckx, Cecilia Vicuna1994-1995Catherine de ZegherKanaal Art Foundation, Begijnhof St-Elisabeth, Courtray
1992: America, Bride of the Sun TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefAmerica, Bride of the Sun. 500 Years / Latin America and the Low CountriesIncluding, among others, Alicia Barney, Juan Davila, Lydia Clark, Waltercio Caldas, Luis Camnitzer, Carlos Capelan, Jimmie Durham, Roberto Evangelista, Lucio Fontana, Mathias Goeritz, Frida Kahlo, David Lamelas, Lea Lublin, Ana Mendieta, Oscar Munoz, Helio Oiticica, Regina Vater, Victor GrippoJan, 1990–May 31, 1992Catherine de Zegher Paul VandenbroeckRoyal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp
1995: Inside the Visible: An Elliptical Traverse of 20th Century Art, In, Of, and From the Feminine TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefInside the Visible: An Elliptical Traverse of 20th Century Art, In, Of, and From the Feminine
Awarded "Best Show," AICA Award, 1995–1996Including, among others, Hannah Höch, Claude Cahun, Louise Bourgeois, Carol Rama, Yayoi Kusama, Martha Rosler, Ana Mendieta, Carrie Mae Weems, Nadine Taseel, Jana Sterbak, Ana Torf, Charlotte Salomon, Mira Schendel, Nancy Spero, Hanne Darboven, Susan Hiller, Lili Dujourie, Avis Newman
Inside the Visible was based on the exhibition series entitled Begin de Begijne in Vlaanderen, organized by Kanaal Art Foundation at the Begijnhof St-Elisabeth, Courtray. The exhibition consisted of assembling all individual contemporary art exhibitions from the series in one group exhibition including historical work of 37 women artists from the 20th century.Jan 31, 1996–May 15, 1996Catherine de ZegherInstitute of Contemporary Art, Boston, traveled to National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, June 15–Sept 15, 1996; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, Nov 10–Dec 8, 1996; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Feb 13–April 6, 1997
1997: Mona Hatoum, Ann Veronica Janssens, Gabriel Orozco TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefMona Hatoum, Ann Veronica Janssens, Gabriel OrozcoMona Hatoum, Ann Veronica Janssens, Gabriel OrozcoSept 12–Oct 18, 1997Catherine de ZegherGalerie Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerp
1997: 47th Venice Biennale, Belgian Pavilion TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRef47th Venice Biennale, Thierry de Cordier: Kamer der gedachten (Scriptorium)Thierry de CordierJune 15–Nov 9, 1997Catherine de ZegherVenice Biennale, Belgian Pavilion, Venice
1998: Martha Rosler: Positions in the Life World TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefMartha Rosler: Positions in the Life WorldMartha RoslerDec 5, 1998–Jan 30, 1999Catherine de Zegher Elizabeth Ann MacgregorIkon Gallery, Birmingham; traveled to Nouveau Musée de Art Contemporani, Barcelona; The Generali Foundation, Vienna; New Museum, New York
1999–2006: Drawing Center, New York
Solo exhibitions TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRefCyrilla Mozenter: Very Well SaintCyrilla MozenterMay 12–June 10, 2000Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkMark Manders: Room with Several Night Drawings and One Reduced Night SceneMark MandersJune 21– July 26, 2000Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkAnia Soliman: BiohazardsAnia SolimanSep 9–Oct 7, 2000Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkUntitled Passages by Henri MichauxHenri MichauxOct 28–Dec 20, 2000Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkDraw & Tell: Lines of Transformation by Norval Morrisseau/Copper ThunderbirdNorval Morrisseau, Copper ThunderbirdFeb 24–April 7, 2001Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkBetween Street and Mirror: The Drawings of James EnsorJames EnsorApril 27–July 7, 2001Catherine de Zegher, Robert HoozeeDrawing Center, New YorkBracha Lichtenberg Ettinger: EurydiceNov 31–Dec 15, 2001Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkSuzan Frecon: Drawing PaintingSuzan FreconJan 4–Feb 15, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkAnna Maria Maiolino: A Life Line/Vida AforaAnna Maria MaiolinoJan 10–Feb 21, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkSuzan Frecon: Drawing paintingSuzan FreconJan 10–Feb 21, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkEllen Gallagher: PreserveEllen GallagherMarch 2– April 20, 2002Jeff Fleming, Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New York; Des Moines Art CenterClarina Bezzola: FluidClarine BezzolaJune 19–July 27, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkEllsworth Kelly: Tablet 1949–1973Ellsworth KellyMay 2–July 24, 2002Yve-Alain Bois, Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New York; traveled to Musee Cantonal des Beaux Arts, LausanneSarah Oppenheimer: HallwaySarah OppenheimerMay 3–June 8, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkKay Rosen: Collages 1999-2002Kay RosenSep 22–Oct 26, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkCesar Paternosto and Cecilia Vicuña, DIS SOLVING: threads of water and lightCesar Paternosto, Cecilia VicuñaNov 2–Dec 20, 2002Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkRóza El-Hassan: DrawingsRóza El-HassanJune 6–July 26, 2003Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkGiuseppe Penone: The Imprint of DrawingGiuseppe PenoneJanuary 22–March 4, 2004Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New York; traveled to Milton Keynes Gallery, 27 Mar–9 May 2004Zoe Keramea: Geometry of ParadoxJune 18-July 30, 2005Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkRichard Tuttle: It's a Room for 3 PeopleRichard TuttleNov 6, 2004–March 5, 2005Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New York; traveled to The Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, ColoradoLooking at the Spirits: Peter Minshall's Carnival DrawingsSep 17–29 Oct 29 2005Catherine de Zegher,
Luis CamnitzerDrawing Center, New YorkJoelle Tuerlinckx's Drawing InventoryJoelle TuerlinckxFebr 25–Apr 22, 2006Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkCrust and Dirt's Instant Drawing MachineOliver Halsman Rosenberg, Clint TaniguchiJune 17–July 22, 2006Drawing Center, New YorkEva Hesse Drawings Award for Excellence, AAMC The Association of Art Museum CuratorsEva HesseMay 6–July 15, 2006Catherine de Zegher Elizabeth SussmanDrawing Center, New York; traveled to The Menil Collection, Houston, Feb 3-Apr 23, 2006; Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Aug 6-Oct 28, 2006; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Nov 12, 2006-Feb 18, 2007)
Group exhibitions TitleArtistsYearCurator(s)Institution / LocationRef Another City for Another Life: Constant's New BabylonNov 2– Dec 30, 1999Mark Wigley, Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New York; traveled to Witte de With in Rotterdam, 1998The Body of the Line: Eisenstein's DrawingsJan 22– March 18, 2000Jean Gagnon, Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkKorwa Drawings: Contemporary Tribal Works on Paper from Central IndiaOct 11–Nov 9, 2000Catherine de ZegherDrawing Center, New YorkThe Prinzhorn Collection: Traces Upon the Wunderblock